Devil May Care delivered an ideal present to trainer Todd Pletcher on his 43rd birthday -- a 1 1/4-length win in the Grade 1, $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Belmont Park. It was the first start for Devil May Care since running 10th against the boys in the Kentucky Derby. The circumstances were far different in the Mother Goose. The field contained only five runners, compared to 20 in the Derby. The Mother Goose, run at 1 1/8 miles since 1959, was shortened to 1 1/16 miles this year. The distance was considerably less than the 1 1/4 miles Devil May Care tackled in the slop at Churchill Downs. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=5327464
Impressive win. You could tell she was a winner at the quarter pole when she easily took the lead without being asked. When they started to come at her down the stretch, the jockey asked her and she responded nicely. Never much of a doubt. Nice little filly.
